[jwparkerjr]

Is this a different fatality from the police office from nearby Haines City that was struck on his motorcycle on the way to work this morning? Early reports said the office was first hit by one driver then left in the road and run over and dragged quite distance by a semi-tractor trailer. Sounds like someone has confused the two stories maybe?

Either way it's a tragic story and my prayers to out the officer's family.

[jwparkerjr]

Let me answer my own question. Different story, different officer, but both dead.

Here is the AP report as carried by the Tampa Tribune:

Two people are cooperating with police in the search for the driver of a van involved in a hit-and-run that killed an off-duty Haines City police officer.

The Florida Highway Patrol says Phoenix Montana Braithwaite was riding his motorcycle to work this morning when he was hit head-on by a van near the Osceola-Polk county line. The van’s driver fled on foot.

Braithwaite, who was in his police uniform, was thrown into oncoming traffic and was hit by a tractor-trailer rig and a cement truck. The 24-year-old rookie officer died at the scene.

Authorities say two van passengers are cooperating with police, but are unable to provide the full name of the driver. Troopers are trying to track down the driver through the owner of the van.

[MindBender26]

Two hit and runs, two dead LEOs.